On Morning Focus today John Cooke spoke with Michael Gallagher – father of Aidan who died in the Omagh Bomb in 1998. They discussed the long quest for justice following the news that two republicans have been found liable for the Omagh bombing, following a landmark civil action taken by the relatives of some of the victims. The second trial of Colm Murphy from Co. Louth and Seamus Daly of Co. Monaghan delivered the same outcome in the same court – ruling the men were responsible for the 1998 Real IRA atrocity. Twenty nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, died when the dissident republican car bomb ripped through the town. No-one has been criminally convicted of the bombing.
Clare FM’s Gavin Grace also spoke with John live from Limerick where he was at a press conference hosted by Ryanair, where they have announced that services at Shannon Airport will be boosted. Ryanair have introduced a direct flight to Alicante, which will be twice weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays from June. The low cost carrier expects the route to increase passenger numbers through Clare’s International airport by 30 thousand this year.
Several other carriers have increased their flight capacity through the Mid West in the past few months as the now independent airport is targeting a growth of around 370,000 passengers this year.
Michael Guerin is the Clare Chairman of Daffodil Day and joined the show ahead of the annual fund raising day this Friday. The Irish Cancer Society hopes to raise three and a half million euro on its annual Daffodil day collection this year. On March 22nd this year thousands of volunteers nationwide will take to the streets to sell fresh daffodils and daffodil pins to raise money for cancer support services.If you’d like to volunteer some time tomorrow you can turn up at the Square in Ennis at 9am or if you’d like to donate some daffodils you can contact Guerin’s Shop in Hermitage or Cornmarket Street or call 065 6829170. The Irish Cancer Society Helpline number is 1800 200 700.
Best-Selling Author and Broadcaster Colm Keane was guest of Morning Focus today to discuss his latest book – "We’ll meet Again; Irish Deathbed Visions" – Who will you meet when you die". We do not die alone – that’s the remarkable conclusion of We’ll Meet Again, with stories recounting how dead parents, children, brothers, sisters and close friends are among those who return to meet us as we die. In Colm ‘s latest book he tells the extraordinary death bed stories of people who could see their relatives waiting for them as they were close to death. Colm is the bestselling author of Going Home, and The Distant Shore which also looked at near death experiences, as well as Padre Pio the Irish Connection and The Beatles Irish Concerts – he’s been a frequent and popular guest on Clare FM’s Morning Focus in the past. Unfortunately, Colm Keane has been struggling with some serious issues surrounding cancer himself for the past year, and is very aware of his own mortality as he publicises this latest book.
James Whelan is with the Ballina-Killaloe Business Association and is the proprietor of Killaloe River Cruises – he joined John to talk about a new initiative to boost the town’s tourist trade in the off season. The Love Killaloe Ballina project has been undertaken by those in the tourism, business and community sector. As part of the project, the famous bridge between Ballina and Killaloe may have witnessed a cross border tug of war or two over the years, but this weekend locals are preparing for a tug of love! It’s part of the launch of the new "Love weekends" and the "Love Local" weekend in Killaloe-Ballina, which aims to promote the area as a short break destination. This interview was filmed by a camera crew for the upcoming Local Heroes TV Series on RTE,
John Underhill of Burren Vets was also in studio to answer your pet and animal health queries. If you have a query for John please email [email protected]
To contact Morning Focus please email [email protected]
